Magnapal will probably lead from barrier three ahead of Call Me Handsome working across from the outside draw. Midterm and Amralah shouldn't get too far back from their inside draws. Khartoum is another who can race handy.

He has an awkward draw to overcome but it's hard to ignore Sikandarabad's (2) 2nd to the highly-talented Avilius over 1600m here last start. That followed a terrific 4th first-up over 1400m, so he's clearly come back in good order this preparation. His two runs over this trip in Australia have both been solid.

Magnapal (8) could take a bit of running down if Bates can find the front from barrier three and pinch a couple of cheap sectionals. The Bowman-trained veteran gave a decent sight over 1800m here last start and should strip fitter third-up.

Jaameh (1) has the class to win but is first-up over 2000m with 58.5kg - no easy feat. In saying that, the Lindsay Park import did win over this route off a 212-day break last April. He's trialled well in preparation for this.

Call Me Handsome (4) was okay last start and should be nearing peak fitness fourth-up.

Verdict: Sikandarabad (2) looks hard to beat based on his last start. Magnapal (8) worth a small saver at $23.

Lunar Flare, Legenda and Rossa's Reward look the main three likely to dispute the early lead. Cossetot should settle just in behind the leaders, while D'grammy should lob in the first half of the field.

Lunar Flare (13) was mighty impressive winning over 1600m at The Valley last start, racing up on the speed before pulling clear in the straight to score by 6L. This is tougher but the daughter of Fiorente is on an upward spiral and she should get every chance from barrier three.

Aramayo (1) trialled just fairly before an even first-up showing in the G2 Autumn Stakes (1400m). He might just need one more before really hitting top gear this preparation but the rise in distance should help.

Declares War (3) won three on the bounce in November/December before heading for a short break. He was run off his feet a bit last start in the G2 Autumn Stakes, dropping back from 1720m to 1400m, but this trip looks more suitable. The worry is the start he'll be spotting the leaders from the draw.

Boomstock (11) and Florida Dream (10) both produced eye-catching runs in a 1600m race at Sandown Lakeside last start.

Fast beginner Prussian Vixen will look to cross Tiffany's Lass and Spanish Reef from out wide. I Am a Star may follow PV across, while Jamaican Rain is another widely-drawn runner who generally races handy. The pace looks pretty hot here.

Savatiano (7) let punters down on a couple of occasions last preparation but the Godolphin mare looks nicely-placed here first-up off a stylish trial. She was a winner when resuming over 1350m last campaign, taking her fresh record to three from four. Bowman has ridden her once for a G3 placing over this trip, and he shouldn't have too many excuses from barrier three.

Naantali (8) atoned for a 2nd at Flemington two-back with a dominant win over this route last start. When she strikes form, she generally holds it this Maher and Eustace-trained mare and she does seem to enjoy racing here (4:1-2-0).

I Am a Star (1) is the class mare of the field with over $1.5 million in prizemoney to her name. She ran nicely over 1200m here first-up and she was G3-placed around this circuit at her second start last preparation. Melham boasts an incredible record on the Nichols mare (7:4-0-1).

Spanish Reef (2) will appreciate the rise to 1400m second-up.

Verdict: Savatiano (7) for the win. Naantali (8) on top following the scratching of Savatiano.

News Girl probably leads from Street Icon or Samoon working forward from out wide. Metronome and Princess Jenni should land in handy trailing positions from their favourable draws.

Princess Jenni (12) strolled home by 6L at Geelong back in November before being tipped out for a break. She has since trialled over 800m at Cranbourne, scoring by 1.75L. She rises sharply in grade here but looks promising and has drawn to secure a lovely run in transit.

Angelic Ruler (2) has won five of her nine starts, with her last two victories coming over this distance at Ascot and Bunbury. She makes her Victorian debut here and although it's hard to line up the form, her sectionals point to her measuring up against the local fillies.

Qafila (3) sits on just the one win and one minor placing from 12 starts but she's better than her record suggests. The Lindsay Park filly competed in predominantly Group races last preparation, finishing 2nd in the G2 Wakeful and 5th in the G1 Oaks. She was only 1.05L off Sunlight at her last fresh run.

News Girl (5) should give a decent sight out in front. The rise to 1400m is the query though.

Yulong January should lead from the inside peg ahead of Tin Hat working over from the outside alley. Irukandji and Zousain will probably be the next two horses in running.

Tin Hat (2) is absolutely airborne at the moment and there's no reason why he can't at least hold his current form fourth-up. The Godolphin gelding scored over this route last start by 1.25L in a cracking time of 1:08.79 after crossing over early from a wide barrier. He maps to do the same here, while his main danger Zousain is likely to end up behind the leaders from barrier two. If Lane can steal a march around the turn, Tin Hat's race fitness should see him prove very hard to catch.

Zousain (1) is a classy colt who has trialled well in preparation for his return. He didn't fire when fresh last preparation but that was on a Heavy 8 track so it's probably worth ruling a line through that run. His back-to-back 2nds to The Autumn Sun and Sunlight at G1 level obviously read incredibly well for this. It's just a question of whether he can sprint past the rock-hard fit Tin Hat first-up over 1200m.

The winner should come from the above two, but Poised To Strike (5) was sound behind Tin Hat at this track/distance last start and he was only second-up. The blinkers go on for the first time.

Manuel shouldn't have too many issues finding the front from his middle stall. Le Romain will probably head forward from out wide. Hartnell and Magic Consol will be looking for spots in the first four or five.

Hard to tip against Alizee (11) who was simply awesome winning the G2 Expressway (1200m) at Rosehill last start. The Cummings-trained mare gave some pretty handy horses windburn over the final furlong and the rise to 1400m certainly won't pull her up. Her one and only start here was a 3rd in the G1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) where she pulled up with a throat issue.

Land Of Plenty (7), now with his third trainer in three starts, boasts a brilliant recent record here at Caulfield. He was 3rd in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m), beaten just 0.2L, before storming home to win the G1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) last preparation. Second-up this campaign, he finished 2nd in the G1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) when covering additional ground. The wide gate means he'll probably cover a bit of extra territory again here but he's good enough to overcome that provided horses can run on out wide.

Veteran galloper Le Romain (2) was no match for Alizee last start but he should improve second-up at 1400m. He's never won over this trip but has finished 2nd on six occasions (from eight). He's a tough campaigner who may race on the outside of likely leader Manuel from the wide alley.

Material Man (6) was terrific late in the CF Orr Stakes and is a three-time winner when second-up, while Magic Consol (10) could spice up first fours at monster odds. He did beat Homesman, Night's Watch and Hartnell at WFA level prior to going for a break.

Vinicunca has the gate to lead ahead of I Am Immortal and Bella Rosa wider out. Free Of Debt should be able to slot in just behind the leaders for a nice trail. Athiri and Shotmaker will probably have to drift back to find cover. Expecting Brooklyn Hustle and Loving Gaby to also be spotting the leaders a decent start.

In what looks a wide-open edition of the Blue Diamond, Andrassy Avenue (14) may represent value at $18. She clocked the second-quickest final 200m behind Catch Me in the Blue Diamond Fillies Preview (1000m) before blowing her opposition away over the same trip at The Valley last start. From barrier three, she can probably settle a touch closer than she has at her first couple of starts and it's hard to see her having too many issues with 1200m.

Lyre (7) was terrific in the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) last start, charging home from a midfield position to score by 0.4L. She maps for a similar run in this and the extra 100m is no concern. Currie replaces Lane, with the latter piloting Loving Gaby for Maher and Eustace.

Athiri (11) finished 3rd to Lyre last start after a pretty tough run in transit. She covered ground, largely without cover, but battled on gamely off a 70-day break. She'll strip fitter for this but it will take a fine steer from Williams to get her home from barrier 13 given she is likely to settle back.

Catch Me (6) looms as a sharp improver after a poor showing in the Prelude. The Snowden filly was super winning her first two starts, running slick time in the G3 Gimcrack before overcoming a wide run to score easily in the Blue Diamond Preview. The blinkers will be applied for the first time here. Brooklyn Hustle (13) is another in the mix.

Verdict: Andrassy Avenue (14) worth an each-way play at $18. BEST VALUE

They'll absolutely fly in this, with Nature Strip the likely leader from barrier five. From Within and Eduardo look the main contenders for the spot outside the leader. Fell Swoop, Booker and Ashlor generally race in the first handful. Kemono and Bons Away are likely to drop out the back early.

Nature Strip (3) romped home over this route first-up, overcoming a bit of an awkward jump to lead and stride clear from his G2 rivals at the top of the straight. He didn't beat any superstars there but he ran good time and it's hard to see him going backwards off that, his first run in 134 days. Barrier five is perfect for him but he is going to have to absorb a fair bit of early pressure - something he failed to do in the G1 Moir Stakes (1000m) last campaign.

Eduardo (10) will need everything to go right from barrier 21 (closer after scratchings) but it's difficult to ignore his recent 8L trial win at Cranbourne. The lightly-raced gelding is yet to finish worse than 2nd in five career starts and was an impressive winner of the G2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) here prior to going for a break.

Spright (6) looms as some sort of blowout after proving competitive at this level last preparation. She finished 3rd in the G1 Moir Stakes (1000m), was beaten less than a length in the G1 Manikato (1200m) and was far from disgraced in the G1 VRC Classic (1200m) down the straight. Look for her to be steaming home late.

Encryption (17) caught the eye running 3rd here on resumption and he looks dangerous with just 50kg on his back. Bons Away (5) has minor claims but will be a lot further back than he was when winning here last start.

Trap For Fools will probably work across the field to lead ahead of Ace High, Hiyaam and The Taj Mahal. Those look the four obvious pacesetters but D'argento could also enter the early mix.

Avilius (8) isn't exactly ideally drawn in barrier one but if Bowman can get him into the clear at the top of the straight, the Godolphin gelding should do the rest. He looked to be in an awkward spot at the 400m here last start but he doesn't shy away from taking a gap and his closing speed is outstanding. He steps from 1600m to 1800m - which is a tick - and he's two from three when second-up, including a barnstorming win over 1900m last campaign.

Night's Watch (9) battled on well behind Avilius last start but was no match for him there and it's hard to see him turning the tables if both horses enjoy even luck here. Outside of his two unplaced efforts in the G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and G1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m), he boasts a very impressive record around this circuit. Interestingly he's wearing a tongue tie for the first time.

Trap For Fools (3) can give a decent sight out in front if Allen can find the front early without burning too much petrol. D'argento (6) was plain in the G1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) first-up but perhaps the addition of blinkers will sharpen him up. He looks more one-paced these days than he did earlier in his career.